Professional Development in Middle Grades Education – EDUC 601

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

This class will heighten Middle Grade Educators' understanding of their personal pedagogy by encouraging reflective practice through individualized and collaborative professional development opportunities.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

This course will enhance middle grade educators’ ability to assimilate and accommodate past and future professional development opportunities by encouraging reflective practice and modeling differentiated instruction/retention techniques. Adolescent learners have specific learning needs; middle grade educators need specialized training in order to be properly prepared.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the candidate will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the candidate is required to create a thread of at least 250 words in response to the provided prompt. For each thread, the candidate must support his or her assertions with at least 2 citations in current APA format. In addition to the thread, the candidate is required to reply to 2 classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 100 words and cite at least 1 source in current APA format. Acceptable sources include the textbook, applicable journal articles, and the Bible. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G)

Weekly Reflective Log Assignments (6)

The candidate will keep a weekly journal throughout this course concerning his or her personal thoughts about each week’s professional and personal activities. The candidate will write a 150-200 word reflection about each week’s professional and personal activities and thoughts. (CLO: A, B)

Creating a Reading Road Map Assignment

The candidate will create a Reading Road Map that can be used with the assigned reading. The map should display characteristics of a map, tracing the learning that will come from the chapter. (CLO: B, C, F, G)

Purposeful and Explicit Note-Taking Assignment

The candidate will learn and use the purposeful and explicit note-taking technique during his or her weekly reading. This assignment allows the candidate to create an effective instructional strategy commonly used in the classroom. (CLO: B, C, D, E, G)

Chapter Scenario Assignments (3)

These assignments allow the candidate to interact with various issues in the school. Scenarios provide opportunities for the candidate to research and interact both professionally and personally. (CLO: B, C, D, E, G)

Anticipation Guide Assignment

The candidate will create an Anticipation Guide using the assigned reading to aid in teaching. This assignment allows the candidate to develop an effective instructional strategy for the classroom. (CLO: B, C, D, E, G)

Teaching Strategy Article Review Assignment

The candidate will select and review a journal article that discusses a new strategy or a new perspective on an “old” strategy. The candidate will choose an interactive, middle-school-appropriate strategy and follow the provided instructions to demonstrate its use. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G)

Magic Square Assignment

The candidate will learn how to construct a magic square—a creative way to enhance students’ vocabulary knowledge. The magic square allows the candidate to create an engaging instructional strategy. (CLO: B, C, G)

School-Community Presentation Assignments

The candidate will create a PowerPoint presentation for fellow teachers concerning the role of community in the school. The presentation must include a minimum of 10 informational slides. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G)

Cumulative Weekly Reflective Log Assignment

The candidate will reflect on the weekly logs created and complete a final reflection and summary concerning his/her personal thoughts about each week’s professional and personal activities, including a biblical perspective. The candidate must write a 400-500 word reflection about his/her professional and personal activities and thoughts. (CLO: A, B)

Reflective Practitioner Paper Assignment

The candidate will develop a 5–7-page paper based upon the Weekly Log, Discussions, interactions with the instructor, course readings with attention to Tobias & Acuna, and outside journal articles. There must be a separate title and reference page, for a total of 7-9 pages. This paper will summarize the candidate’s path toward honing his or her reflective practice. The paper must follow current APA format and include a title page, running head, citations, and a reference page. The reference page must include at least 6 references. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F)

Quiz: Cumulative Ryan Textbook

This quiz will cover the Learn material from all chapters assigned in each Module. The quiz will be open-book/open-notes, consist of 35 multiple choice and 4 essay questions and have a 2.5 hour time limit. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G)

Quizzes (3)

Each quiz will cover the Learn material for the assigned Module. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, consist of 20–25 multiple choice questions and have a 1.5 hour time limit (CLO: B, C, D, E, G).